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But Misty knew she was right There had to be a better way For generations, like shifters had stuck with like The wolves, the bears, the rodents, the sparrows, and now even the snow leopards, up in Glacier Park They all closed ranks with their own kind, and God forbid one group angered another

There could be all-out wars up here in the Montana mountain forests Misty was determined that she’d see the end of that in her lifetime

How she’d accoh, she didn’t know

But she was going to figure it out

Ty

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

Ty’s boss Saht, Ty Come on in”

He shut the door behind him and took a seat in front of Sam’s desk As soon as he sat down, his bones sent out a plea: Let’s stay here a while

And behind that was the plaintive voice of his jaguar: No, let’s go out Let’s go run Away fros and the computers

“I i, looking at hilasses, brow furrowed

Ty sighed “Yes, sir”

“How ested you take a vacation so far this year?”

“Lost count,” Ty admitted

“Yes Me, too And have you taken any of those vacations?”

“We’re understaffed,” Ty said quietly

“We are always understaffed You knohat’s worse than understaffed?” Saave him a hard look “Burnt-out social workers I would far rather have an empty position than have one filled by someone who’s worked themselves to death”

“I’m fine,” Ty said immediately Sam, after all, wasn’t a shifter—didn’t even know shifters existed, as far as Ty could tell He wouldn’t know the lengths to which Ty could push himself, the stress he could take

But Sa less You’re starting to get short-teot the beginnings of burnout coets critical”

“I would never neglect this job” Ty knew his voice had gotten dangerously quiet Inside his chest, his jaguar growled

And that, ave him pause

Sa, considering stare Ty breathed once, twice, and uar settle down

“I’ve offered you a promotion to an administrative position,” Sa out of options, here, Ty, and you’re not helping me”